Tragic swimming accident close to home.

The uncle isn't bright enough to be permitted to carry passengers on his boat. Didn't anyone aboard think of throwing a floatation device to the kids? Couldn't they have moved the damn boat a little bit downstream of the kids so they could just float over to it? From the article, it sounds like those kids died because the captain is grossly incompetent.
 
The uncle isn't bright enough to be permitted to carry passengers on his boat. Didn't anyone aboard think of throwing a floatation device to the kids? Couldn't they have moved the damn boat a little bit downstream of the kids so they could just float over to it? From the article, it sounds like those kids died because the captain is grossly incompetent.

Frank,

I know these waters, and it sound like a lot of errors contributed to this. In this area there are many places to go swimming in shallow (walking) depth. Many boats will move in close to the shore line for swimming and when you get tired all you have to do is stand up. It makes no sense to be out there in the deep water.

All too often these tragic events happen when people just don’t think about the danger of what they are doing. Afterwards, it’s too late!
 
Frank,

All too often these tragic events happen when people just don’t think about the danger of what they are doing. Afterwards, it’s too late!

That's the problem! Just because it's the weekend does not mean that thinking is optional! Sure it's fun to be on the water, but it's also dangerous. That's why we carry safely equipment. It's not because the Coast Guard gets a kick-back for every flare and vest sold. Once someone steps aboard your boat you're responsible not only for then having a good time, but also for their well being so that they can step off the boat at the end of the day.

Then this guy had a 19' whaler. The damned things are designed for shallows. There just isn't any excuse. Stupid and not thinking aren't good excuses. Those deaths didn't occur in a flash. The situation developed over the course of minutes. One kid couldn't make it back. Two went to get him and of the two rescuers, only one of them made it back. The blindingly obviously thing would have been to move the damn boat!

Which brings me full circle to my original opening sentence. The uncle isn't bright enough to be permitted to carry passengers on his boat.
 
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That is a very sad story indeed.

Only on one occasion has a guest on our boat wanted to swim in the water without a vest. A 20 minute 'discussion' ensued between he and I..... he wore a vest before going in.

On my boat, swimming in ANY water with ANY current requires a vest. PERIOD.

Any so called 'captain' who does not have the same rule should have their head examined.
 
On my boat, swimming in ANY water with ANY current requires a vest. PERIOD.

Any so called 'captain' who does not have the same rule should have their head examined.



Very tragic accident our prayers go out to the family. Yes it does sound like some bad decisions were made.

As to the comment about "must have vest on" to swim. Are you talking about non-swimmer or all swimmer? I would have to agree with you for non-swimmers, but totally disagree with you for swimmers.
 
That is a very sad story indeed.

Only on one occasion has a guest on our boat wanted to swim in the water without a vest. A 20 minute 'discussion' ensued between he and I..... he wore a vest before going in.

On my boat, swimming in ANY water with ANY current requires a vest. PERIOD.

Any so called 'captain' who does not have the same rule should have their head examined.

Hmm. You’re not a skin diver, are you?

I skin dive without a PDF. Wearing a PDF and skin diving are not compatible.
 
Many years ago we had a similar, though less tragic, experience on my parents' boat on the Hudson River. Fortunately we were able to recover the swimmer, but since then whenever we are swimming where there is any current (and often when there isn't), we put a line out behind the boat. We attach a float of some sort at the end; the usual line is the tubing tow rope with the tube attached.
 
You mix cold water with current and no flotation... you've only got a few minutes before someone gets tired very quickly. throw a floating line off the back of the boat.
 
There are several aspects to this accident that I think everyone can learn from...

First, when we swim on the James or Chickahominy Rivers, we make sure the tide flow is near a minimum... Granted there will always be some tide but swimming on the rivers near maximum ebb or flow gives you a 2+ knot current to deal with around the Chesapeake Bay. People (and dogs) can't swim 2+ knots for any length. We've been on the bay and swam and if it is open water, I'll let the boat drift with the current (with me at the helm) but that's not an option on a river.

The second thing, like presentation said, is to have a line and tube or something so people can grab onto it... like this:

a5bd7621.jpg


The problem is, however, that people think the tube is a "destination" and not a "last chance" item. But they still use the line to pull themselves back to the boat.

The third thing is, and this is for bigger boats, we always deploy the PWC or dinghy to go get people in case the get too far away:

b54060bd.jpg


The last thing is the life jackets... note that EVERYONE has a freekin' life jacket on. Why do people hate life jackets so much?!
 
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Some great points about the line/tub and swimming in currents.

The last thing is the life jackets... note that EVERYONE has a freekin' life jacket on. Why do people hate life jackets so much?!

It not that people dislike life jackets. Have you ever tried to skin dive with one. Not going to happen! People still drown with life jackets on. There is nothing that is going to fix stupid decisions. Yes as the captain you are responsible for your crew you need to be making the right decisions. A life jacket is not a catch all.

Gary I agree all kids should wear a life jacket when boating. It is the law, plus it is the right decision.

I just have a problem with people making wrong decision then blaming it on somebody else or trying force something on somebody else.
 
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A life jacket is not a catch all.

It'll sure keep your butt floating when you are exhausted and drifting down the river....

No one skin dives on the Chesapeake Bay....

Can you point to me ONE single incidence where a person drown with a life jacket on?
 
Gary – FYI…your signature photo has not been working for a while.

I can right click, copy the URL, paste it in a new window and it works but it does not appear below your posts.

Can other members see Gary’s signature photo?
 
This article from the Baltimore Sun of a tragic swimming accident at our local river right at the beginning of summer is just too sad. Please everyone be safe out there.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_county/bal-md.drown08jun08,0,1971073.story

This is why I always have alcohol on the boat. Once people get drunk, they dont feel like going for a swim.

Seriously, sad incident. We only raft up/swim in the non moving coves around the lake/river. The current can get pretty strong when the dams are open.
 
Gary – FYI…your signature photo has not been working for a while.

I can right click, copy the URL, paste it in a new window and it works but it does not appear below your posts.

Can other members see Gary’s signature photo?

hmm, its working now. Did you do something or am I going crazy?
 
Hmm. You’re not a skin diver, are you?

I skin dive without a PDF. Wearing a PDF and skin diving are not compatible.

Doug, no skin diving on my boat.

Chuck, ALL humans wear a vest when jumping in the water off my boat and we ALWAYS have a line & float from the stern hook.

I don't vary the rule based on whether they tell me they can swim or not.

So I take it that this may sound harsh to many of you... but you can swim in the safety of a pool without a vest where there will be no problem with current and suddenly becoming 'inaccessible' to me as the captain. In the bay or ocean, the risk of becoming 'not accessible' to the boat is much greater due to the current. I've seen this first hand and it becomes a fire drill when someone gets tired and start to drift (usually a teen). Get everyone back on board, argue with the 2-3 guys that want to jump in and swim over to the person, fire-up engines, pull anchor, navigate to the swimmer, shut engines, etc. With a vest it is major inconvenience but we laugh about it. WITHOUT a vest... it's an 'oh ****!' moment and I'm too old to deal with them at this point in my life.

On my boat, you can either swim with a vest.. or stay on board and enjoy a mojito with me.
 
Just a quick search this from the USCG report in 2002.

Nearly 85% of the victims who drowned were not wearing their personal flotation
device (PFD or lifejacket).

 
.. or stay on board and enjoy a mojito with me.

That's not fair, swim or mojito.... ok I like extra lime in mine:thumbsup::lol:

Don't get me wrong I have no problems with life jackets. I just think people need to think more about what they are doing in the first place. I forget where I saw it, but more people drown in pools than in open water. When somebody makes dumb decisions and thinks a life vest is going to save them they are just wrong.
 
Frank,

I know these waters, and it sound like a lot of errors contributed to this. In this area there are many places to go swimming in shallow (walking) depth. Many boats will move in close to the shore line for swimming and when you get tired all you have to do is stand up. It makes no sense to be out there in the deep water.

Here is a shot of where this occured. The families affected will be in my thoughts and prayers. Most anchor on the far right around Maxwell's Point where its a sandy bottom, less current, and good for swimming.

The area where this accident occured is to the left shore between the O and P. Its a day use area with a restricted swimming area so if you anchor outside of that you could have been in over 7 ft of water given the tide and moon.

Again tragic no matter how its looked at and I feel compassion for the operator of the vessel as in the video the family member mentioned that they DID move the boat, but by the time they got there only the one survivor was above the water...

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duman95
 
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